The Quorum of the Twelve:
Present Members

Set apart as acting President of the Quorum of the
Twelve on June 5, 1994, and again March 12, 1995.
Sustained an Assistant to the Twelve Sept. 30, 1961;
sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve April 6, 1970, and
ordained an apostle April 9, 1970, at age 45. Former
supervisor of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.
Former president of the New England Mission. Received his
bachelor's and master's degrees from Utah State
University, and Ph.D. in educational administration from
BYU. Pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Born Sept. 10, 1924, in Brigham City, Utah, a son of Ira
Wright and Emma Jensen Packer. Wife, Donna Smith Packer,
parents of 10 children.

Elder L. Tom Perry

Sustained as Assistant to the Twelve Oct. 6, 1972;
sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve on April 6, 1974,
and ordained an apostle April 11, 1974, at age 51. Served
in the Marines in the Pacific during World War II.
Graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. degree
in finance; was vice president and treasurer of
department store chain in Boston, Mass. Born Aug. 5,
1922, in Logan, Utah, to L. Tom and Nora Sonne Perry.
Married Virginia Lee, parents of three children. She died
in 1974. Married Barbara Dayton in 1976.

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve April 7, 1984,
and ordained an apostle April 12, 1984, at age 59. Former
Sunday School general president, regional representative
and stake president. Renowned surgeon and medical
researcher. Received B.A. and M.D. degrees from
University of Utah, and Ph.D. from University of
Minnesota. Former president of the Society for Vascular
Surgery and former chairman of the Council on
Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart
Association. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sept. 9,
1924, a son of Marion C. and Edna Anderson Nelson. Wife,
Dantzel White Nelson, parents of 10 children.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Sustained to Quorum of the Twelve April 7, 1984, and
ordained apostle on May 3, 1984, at age 51. Graduate of
BYU in accounting; received juris doctorate cum laude
from University of Chicago; was law clerk to U.S. Supreme
Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, practiced law in
Chicago, and was professor of law at University of
Chicago for 10 years, and was executive director of the
American Bar Foundation for a year. Served nine years as
president of BYU, and three years as Utah Supreme Court
justice. Born Aug. 12, 1932, in Provo, Utah, a son of Dr.
Lloyd E. and Stella Harris Oaks. Wife, June Dixon Oaks,
parents of six children.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

Sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 3,
1976, and to the presidency of the quorum Feb. 21, 1980.
Sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Oct. 6, 1985, and
ordained an apostle Oct. 10, 1985, at age 57. Attended
the University of Utah; previously engaged in various
business enterprises, including automotive, real estate
and investments. Was president of the Canada Toronto
Mission; also served as counselor in a mission
presidency. The grandson of Apostles Melvin J. Ballard
and Hyrum Mack Smith, he was born in Salt Lake City,
Utah, on Oct. 8, 1928, to Melvin Russell Sr. and
Geraldine Smith Ballard. Wife, Barbara Bowen Ballard,
parents of seven children.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Sustained as an Assistant to the Twelve April 4, 1975,
to the First Quorum of the Seventy on Oct. 1, 1976, and
to the presidency of the quorum on Aug. 28, 1986;
sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Oct. 4, 1986, and
ordained an apostle Oct. 9, 1986, at age 69. Served in
the Sunday School general presidency, former stake
president's counselor. Graduate of University of Utah in
business management; former president of trade
association in Utah. Born June 11, 1917, in Salt Lake
City, Utah, to Joseph L. and Madeline Bitner Wirthlin.
Wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, parents of eight
children.

Elder Richard
G. Scott

Sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 2,
1977, and to the presidency of the quorum on Oct. 1,
1983; sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve on Oct. 1,
1988, and ordained an apostle Oct. 6, 1988, at age 59.
Received B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from
George Washington University, and completed post-graduate
work in nuclear engineering at Oakridge, Tenn. Worked 12
years on the staff of Adm. Hyman Rickover, developing
military and private nuclear power reactors; subsequently
consultant to nuclear power industry. Born Nov. 7, 1928,
in Pocatello, Idaho, to Kenneth Leroy and Mary Eliza
Whittle Scott. Wife, Jeanene Watkins Scott, parents of
seven children, five of whom are living.

Elder Robert
D. Hales

Sustained an Assistant to the Twelve April 4, 1975,
and to the First Quorum of the Seventy Oct. 1, 1976;
sustained as Presiding Bishop April 6, 1985; sustained to
the Quorum of the Twelve April 2, 1994, and ordained an
apostle April 7, 1994, at age 61. Former first counselor
in the Sunday School general presidency, president of the
England London Mission, regional representative, and
served in various leadership positions, including stake
president's counselor in the United States, England,
Germany and Spain. Earned bachelor's degree from the
University of Utah, and master of business administration
degree from Harvard; served in the U.S. Air Force as
a jet fighter pilot; was an executive with four major
national companies. Born Aug. 24, 1932, in New York City,
N.Y., to John Rulon and Vera Marie Holbrook Hales. Wife,
Mary Elene Crandall Hales, parents of two sons.

Elder Jeffrey
R. Holland

Sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy on April
1, 1989, while serving as president of Brigham Young
University in Provo, Utah; ordained an apostle June 23,
1994, at age 53; sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve
Oct. 1, 1994. Former Church commissioner of education and
director or instructor at many institutes of religion.
Received bachelor's degree in English and master's degree
in religious education from Brigham Young University, and
received master's degree and doctorate in American
studies from Yale University. Born Dec. 3, 1940, in St.
George, Utah, a son of Frank D. and Alice Bentley
Holland. Wife, Patricia Terry Holland, parents of three
children.

Elder Henry B.
Eyring

Sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve April 1, 1995,
and ordained an apostle April 6, 1995, at age 61.
Commissioner of Education for the Church Educational
System. Sustained as first counselor in the Presiding
Bishopric April 6, 1985, at age 51; sustained to the
First Quorum of the Seventy Oct. 3, 1992. Former regional
representative, member of the Sunday School General Board
and bishop. Received bachelor's degree from University of
Utah, and master's degree and doctorate from Harvard
University. Former Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner
of Education for Church Educational System, and former
president of Ricks College, 1971-77. Born May 31, 1933,
in Princeton, N.J., to Henry and Mildred Bennion Eyring.
Wife, Kathleen Johnson Eyring, parents of six children.